Electric car



- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN W. HENDERSON, OFPI'IILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,080, dated. April 23, 1889.

Application filed January 19, 1889. Sem'al No. 296,797. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 71mg/ concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN W. HENDERSON, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State ofvPennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Electric Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric cars; and it consists of certain improvements, fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable supportfor the electric motor upon 4the axle.

the axles, whereby the motor may be at all times in proper connection with the axles, notwithstanding that the axles may move out of parallelism. By this improvement I am enabled to use one motor with a longitudinal shaft making connection at each end by means of worm and worm-,wheel gearing. My supporting-frame is adapted to motors having various power connections between the motor and axles, but is especially adapted to the construction employing Worm and wormwheel power-transmitting devices.

In carrying out my invention I vprovide each axle with a frame j ournaled thereon and having two holes in the same of substantially the same horizontal plane and at a distance apart, and between the axles are arranged two parallel beams provided on their ends with journals which fit into the holes in the axleframes. Upon these beams the motor is secured throughv elastic` supports, and is arranged with its shaft preferably longitudinal in a vertical plane between the beams, and geared to the axles by worm and worm-wheel gearing. This gearing is in practice inclosed within the axle-frames,"which are made boxshaped. I make one of the worm-wheels and axle-frames loose upon the axle, so as to slide longitudinally, but to positively rotate with I also connect the two parallel beams by bolts having elastic washers, so as to allow rocking motion. The structure is such that no matter how much independent movement may be given to either axle with respect to the other the frame adjusts itself to the inequality and the motor has at all times an easy and elastic bed,which not only makes it run `more easily, but prevents rat- I do not coniine myself tothe det-ails above.

and hereinafter set out, as they are simply given as a type of my improvements, andare those which have been found most satisfactory.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of an electric motor and its support arranged between two axles of a car. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of same on the axles'and shows one of the axle-frames in section to exhibit the worm and worm-wh eels. Fig. 8 is a crosssection of same on line x. Fig. 4 is an end view-of same; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of one of the axle-frames, showing the hole and journal of the supportingbeam.

A A are the two axles of a truck or a fourwheeled car or other vehicle. Upon these axles are frames B B, which frames are arranged at or near the middle of each axle and have their position insured by collars C and C'. The collars C of one axle keep the frame B in fixed position upon its axle, whereas it is preferable to place the collars C of the other axle far enough apart to enable a little movement of the frame B upon the axle. These frames B areinade hollow, each forming a chamber, E, made up of the upper and lower halves, e e', which are bolted together, as shown. Within this chamber a Worm-wheel, D, is arranged upon the axle and caused to rotate with it by means of a feather or key, The worm-wheel has journals d on each side, and upon these the bearings b of the frame B are journaled. The Worm-wheel D and frame B on the axle betweenthe collars C both have a freedom of lateral movement. It is evident that, if desired, both worm-wheels and frames may have this lateral movement.

F is aworm having journals f journaled in bearings G in the upper part of the frame B, and this worm meshes with the worin-wheel., which latter runs in oil, if desired. Upon each side of the frame B is an extension having a journal box or hole, I), in which the journals t' of the longitudinal beams I-I are journaled. The beams H are shown as formed of channel-iron andl having frames I at each end secured thereto, and which frames have the hori- IOO zout-al j ournal-pins i', above referred to. These pins i are of smaller diameter than the holes .P to allow of a little lateral motion, and are preferably provided with a feather or key, p, at their top to prevent the frame B rotating with the axle to any extent. (See Fig. 5.) It will be observed that the beams 1-I are lowered down considerably below the holes I), so as to bring the motor-support low and to admit of a lateral swinging of the beams II upon pins c' as centers. These beams are connected by bolts 71, Fig. 3, and elastic washers h,which will permit of the beams having independent motions when desired.

K is the motor, which may be of any type, and is bolted or otherwise secured to a base, .I which in turn is secured to the beams H H by bolts j and rests upon the elastic cushions j, which may be rubber or coiled springs. This connection, while holding the motor in position, admits of free movement of the support under it. The motor-shaft k runs longitudinally with the car and extends toward each frame B. The motor-shaft is connected with each of the worms by a iiexible coupling, M, which consists of a slotted head, m, on the worm, inthe slot of which the end of the shaft k extends, and a pin, N, in the end of said shaft projects, as shown.

Heretofore a coupling having four notches and four projections was used; but as only two of the projections were in contact at the same time the changing of the projections coming into contact caused a rattling. By this modication I overcome that noise and provide a simpler and yet equally strong couplng. nected 4at each end with the worms, and there is sufficient play to allow of all movements necessary for displacement due to the relative shifting of the axles in running over irregular roadways or jumping switches, crossings,

It is clearly evident that the parts H and I may be formed of an integral piece of metal. In place of supporting the motor upon the laterally-movable beams in the manner shown, any suitable laterally-movable motor-supporting frame may be employed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, an axle-frame journaled upon each axle, a motor -V supporting frame hung from said axle-frames with provision for lateral movement, and an electric motor supported by said motorsupporting frame.

2. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, an axle-frame journaled upon each axle, a motorsupporting frame hung from said axle-frames with provision for lateral movement, an electric motor supported by said motor-supporting frame having a longitudinal shaft, and gear- The motor-shaft is thus iiexibly coning between the ends of said shaft and axles. 3. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, an axle-frame journaled upon each axle, a` motor-supporting frame hung from said axle-frames with provision for lateral movement, an electric motor supported by said motor-supporting frame, having a longitudinal shaft, and gearing between the ends of said shaft and axles consisting of worms and worm-wheels, the latter being secured to the axles.

4. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, an axle-frame journaled upon each axle havingaworm chamber or case, a motor-supporting frame hung from said axle-frames with provision for lateral movement, an electric motor supported by said motor-supporting frame, having a longitudinal shaft, and gearing between the ends of said shaft and axles consisting of worms and worm-wheels, the latter being secured to the axles and arranged within the inclosing chambers or casings of the axle-frames.

5. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, a frame supported by said axles between the wheels, an electric motor, elastic supports wholly supporting and arranged below the motor and between the motor and frame, and power-transmitting devices between the motor and axle.

6. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, a frame supported by said axles, an electric motor, elastic supports between the motor and frame, wormwheels on the axles, worms for meshing with the worm-wheels, and flexible couplings between the motor-shaft and worms.

7. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, a laterally-swinging frame supported by said axles, an electric motor, elastic supports between the mo tor and frame, and power-transmittin g devices between the motor and axle. x

8. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, an axle-frame on each axle, a motor-supporting frame hung from said frames, worm-wheels on the axles, worms for said worm-wheels journaled in the axle-frames, a motor supported on motorsupporting frame, and flexible couplings between the motor-shaft and worms.

9. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the combination ot two axles, an axle-frame on each axle, a motor-supporting frame hung from said frames, worm-wheels on the axles, worms for said worm-wheels journaled in the axle-frames, a motor supported on the motorsupporting frame by elastic connections, and lexible couplings between the motor-shaft and worms.

10. The combination of two axles, a laterally-movable motor-supporting frame carried by the axles, a motor on said frame, and a power-transmitting connection between one or both axles and motor-shaft.

11. The combination of two axles, an axle- ITO frame journaled upon each axle; and a motorsupporting frame hung upon said axle-frame by longitudinal y journals.

, i 12,.The combination of two axles, an axleframe journaled upon each axle' and having two holes, and a motor supporting frame formed of two parallel beams hung upon said axle frames by longitudinal journals of smaller diameter than the holes of the axle-fram es.

13. The combination of two axles, a wormwheel upon each axle, an axle-frame jour- -naled concentrically with each axle, worms held by said frames, a motor to rotate said worms, and a longitudinal frame structure loosely connecting with each axle-frame to prevent them from rotating with the axles, but allow of movement of one axle-frame independent of the other.

14. The combination of two axles, a wormwheel upon each axle, an axle-frame j ournaled concentrically with each axle, worms held by said frames, a motor to rotate said worms,

a fiexible coupling between the worms and motor-shaft, and a longitudinal frame structure loosely connecting with each axle-frame to prevent them from rotating with the axles, but allow of movement of one axle-frame independent of the other.

15. The combination of two axles, a wormwheel on each axle, an inclosing-frame journaled concentric with each axle,a worm journaled in the upper parts of each of said frames and also inclosed thereby and meshing with the worm-wheels, an electric motor having a longitudinal shaft arranged in line with the worms, and flexible connections between the motor-shaft and worms.

16. The combination of two axles, a wormwheel secured to each axle, a worm meshing with the upper part of each worm-wheel,

l an inclosing-frame for said worm-wheel, a

journals, elastic connections between the beams, and a motor supported on said beams.

19. In an electrically propelled vehicle, the combination of two axles, an axle-frame journaled upon each axle having a worm chamber or case, a motor-supporting frame hung from said axle-frames with provision for lateral movement, an electric motor supported by said motor-supporting frame having a longitudinal shaft, and gearing between the ends of said shaft and axles, consisting of worms and worm-wheels, the latter being secured to the axles, arranged within the inclosing chambers or casings of the axle-frame, and in which the axle-frame, worm-wheel, and worm on one axle are xed against lateral movement and the similar parts on the other axle are freev to have lateral movement by sliding upon the axle.

20. The combination of two axles, an axlefram e on each axle havin g a hole, l?, and a longitudinal beam having journals t' at each end loosely tting said holes P and provided on top with a key or feather or similar projecting part, p.

21. The combination of two axles, a worm and worm-wheel and connecting-frame carried upon each axle, an intermediate looselyconnected motor-supporting frame connecting the frames 0n the two axles, and a motor sup-v ported by said motor-supporting frame 'having its shaft connected with the worms.

22. The combination of two axles, a wormwheel on each axle, a worm for each wormwheel, a frame for holding the worm to the worm-wheel, a detachable motor-frame connecting the frames for the worms to hold them in place, and a motor secured to the motorframe and movable with it and having its shaft connected with the worms.

23. The combination of two axles, a wormwheel on each axle, a worm for each wormwheel, a frame for holding the worm to the worm-wheel, a detachable motor-frame connecting the frames for the worms to hold them in place, a motor secured to the motor-frame andv movable with it, and a detachable connection between the motor-shaft and worms.

In testimony of which inventionl hereunto set my hand.

IOO 

